Is Ramona weird?

[Dana]

I've noticed that Ramona (bp) likes to splash around in her water bowl, especially after she eats. She ate a mouse on Monday, and after returning to her cage she went directly for the water bowl. Here's the weird part---she stayed in there forever! Ok, not forever, but for about 12 hours. Is this normal? She's my first, and I'm still kind of figuring her out!
Thanks!

[Brandon.O]

it doent sound too wierd but i heard it could be a sign of mites when they stay in there for SO long

[Marla]

It's generally either a sign of mites or ticks or that your temps are too high if they soak for that long. What are your temps, and how are you measuring them?

[TONYDM41684]

My bp used to do that to. I increased the humidity a little bit and got rid of one of my lights. But now that side drops just a little low. Anyways my bp used to stay in the water for the same amount of time.

[Dana]

My temps are 88-92 on the hot side, 78-81 on the cool. She tends to spend most of her time on the cool side, so maybe you all are right about the temperature. I would be able to actually see mites if they were a problem, right?

[gozetec02]

I would check her closely using a flashlight and a magnifying glass to check for ticks and mites. The ticks will glow red and the mites will too. My questions is how big is the tank? If the tank is short like a 10 gallon then the temp gradient might not be separted enough, in other words the cool side it too close to the hot side. Ticks are pretty easy to miss they look just like a dark scale.

[Dana]

The tank is a 20L. She was in the water all day today too (until I handled her) and I even left the lamp off, in case it was getting too warm. After I put her back in the tank she went to the bathroom---do they usually soak before that?

[gozetec02]

Sometimes a soak will make them use the restroom. Maybe picking her up helped things along. Was it white urates or feces?

[Wizill]

she could be preparing to shed.

[Dana]

It was feces. She shed right before I got her (3 wks ago) and I'm not really familiar with how often they shed, but her eyes aren't milky . . . that's supposed to indicate a shed, right?